Paper-folding apparatus.



No. 630,626. Y Patented Aug. 8, I899.

T. McDOWELL &. J. BE NGUUGH.

PAPER FOLDING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Sept. 23, 1896.) (No Model.) 4 Sheats8haet l.

1 Witnesses.

Inventors fifz/z l Attorney.

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No. 630,626. Patented Aug. 8, I899.

T. MCDOWELL &. J. BENGOUGH.

PAPER FOLDING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Sept. 23, 1896.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheats$heet z.

M 2;:entors, 0 5 7 M Attorney.

YM NORII: mans ca. mun-0m wumuamn, 11c.

No. 630,626. Patented Aug. 8, I899. T. McDOWELL &. J. BENGOUGH.

PAPER FOLDING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Sept. 23, 1896.) M B 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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Q? HM 7440M flu} Attorney.

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No. 630,626. 1 Patented Aug. 8, I899;

T. McDUWELL & J. BENGOUGH.

PAPER FOLDING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Sept 23, 1896.)

- 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

'(No Model.)

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U ITED ST T S V PATENT I OFFICE THOMAS MCDOWELL AND JAMES BENGOUGH, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO THE CARTER-ORUME COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

PAPER-FOLDING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 630,626, dated August 8, 1899.

Application filed September 23, 1896. Serial No. 606,720. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS MCDOWELL and J AMES BENGOUGH, of Niagara Falls, in the county of Niagara, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful improve ments in Paper-Folding Apparatus, of which the following, taken in connectionwith the is a full, clear, and

accompanying drawings, exact description.

Our invention relates to paper-folding apparatus particularly for use in connection with printing-machines; andthe object is to provide a paper=folding device suitable for folding the triplicate leaves of what are known as triplicate copyingor blank books.

To this end our invention consists in the combination, with the frame, of a head carrying feed-rolls for the paper, a bed for the paper in the frame, a spring-clamp having guiderods extending through the frame, springs on the rods to hold the clamp in its raised position, a knife to cut the paper, links to support the knife upon the frame, a spring to raise the knife, suitable means to depress the knife, and a projection on the knife to depress the clamp when the knife is depressed; and our invention consists in certain other combinations of parts hereinafter described, and specifically set forth in the'claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed and form'- ing a part of: this specification, Figure 1 is a side'elevation of our folding apparatus, which is shown connected to one end of an ordinary printing-press employed for printing memorandum-slips for copying-books. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the rear angular frame and the back head containing paper-feed rolls. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus with a portion of the frame broken away. Fig. i is an enlarged front-side view of the front head, showing the cutting devices. Fig. 5 shows the clamping device which operates in conjunction with the cutting device. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the front head containingfeed-rolls, taken on line w 00 of Fig. 4. Fig; 7 is a front-side elevation of the back head, the central part thereof being broken away. Fig. 8 shows a triplicate leaf entirely unfolded. Fig. 9 shows the edge of the leaf 5o orweb of paper as it appearsjafter it has I ing-press S.

passed over the first angular frame and is lying between the feed-rolls of the back head; and Fig. 10 shows the same after it has passed over the second angular frame and is lying between the rolls of the front head of the apparatus, and, in fact, shows precisely an edge view of the triplicate or double-folded leaf as" it appears after it is cut off or separated from the web.

Referring specifically to the drawings, WV is the web of paper, passing to the left or in the direction of the arrows from between a pair of feed or deliveringrolls s and 5, ex-

tending horizontally across the end of a print- A and A are the angular frames, arranged.

one in advance of the other, and over and around which the paper passes to fold the same.

B is the back head, or the head located between the pair of angular frames, and B is the front head, or the head through which the paper passes after it has been folded twice. The said angular frames each comprise a pair of bars joined together at one end and forming an acute angle at the junction, with crossbars between them, to which the supporting post or standard a or a is secured, which post or standard is mounted on its respective head, or the headlocated in close proximity to the point of the angular frame.

The faces of the frames A and A are arranged atright angles to each other, A'being in an inclined horizontal plane and A in an inclined vertical plane, as clearly shown in the drawings. The points of the frames extend toone end'of their respective heads and are out of line, 'so that the paper WV will be folded on the broken lines y y, running lengthwiseof the Web between and parallel with its side edges. The webis'folded in substantially a Z shape or zigzag form, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 10 of the drawings. Usually the web is perforated or indented on these lines y y before it leaves the printingpress S. It will be noticed that-one of the compressing-rolls are substantially the same in construction, except that the back head is longer than the other and is not provided with the cutting devices, clamping devices, and gripping-fingers, to be hereinafter described. The back head B stands in a vertical position and is adjustably supported at its lower end upon a grooved horizontal cross-bar X of the frame X. Journaled at its ends and extending vertically are a pair of compressing-rolls c c or simple rods to bear on opposite sides of the web and also a pair of shafts d (l' in advance of the rods or compressing-rolls, each containing a pair of rolls b I) or circumferentially-enlarged portions on the shafts and which constitute the feed-rolls. These paperfeed rolls are on opposite sides ofthe paper, which when passing between them is folded onthe line y.

The heads B and B are adjusted or moved laterally on the grooved cross-bars X X by simply loosening the bolts 2, t and shifting the heads to one side or the other and then tightenin g the said bolts. The beveled gears upon the shafts Y and '10, which drive the feedrolls of the heads 13 and B, are shifted correspondingly by any suitable and well-known means not necessary to be described.

The rotatable shaft d is stationary in the head and'receives motion by means of beveled gears d at its lower end, an inclined shaft Y, extending from the paper-feed rolls oftheprinting-machine,andahorizontalshaft Y, extending below and parallel with the grooved bar X. The upper ends of the feedroll shafts are provided with gear-Wheels c, in mesh with each other, so that the shafts are driven in opposite directions to carry the paper between them. The shaft (Z is journaled in short arms pivoted to the frame of the head, the free ends of the arms being connected to coiled springs 0, (shown in Fig. 2,) which allows the shaft (1, with its rolls, and also the com pressing-rolls c, to bear yieldingly against the stationary rolls on the opposite side of the paper. This operation is due to the fact that the roll referred to is mounted in the pivoted frame which carries one of the feed-rolls. At the diverging ends of the an gular frames A and A are small rollers e and c to hold the paper flat against the faces of the frames. The latter roll 6 is journaled to the front side of the back head. The front head being substantially the same in construction as the back head, except that the former lies in a horizontal position and is shorter, as when the paper passes through it the paper has been folded twice, it will be unnecessary to describe it at length, except in connectionwith the devices attached thereto for clamping and cutting the paper as it emerges from the head. We will say, first,

however, that the feed-rolls of the front head receive motion through beveled gears 19, a vertical shaft 20, carried bythe frame of the head, ahorizontal cross-shaft to below, and an inclined shaft 10, extending between the said cross-shaft and the shaft Y, before referred to, all of said shafts being suitably supported to turn in brackets secured to the frame X, as shown.

In the front head B, below where the paper emerges, is a bed C, and above this bed is a horizontal plate D, secured to the lower ends of a pair of vertical rods E E, extending upward through a horizontal bar E, fixed upon the upper part of the frame of the head. The plate D is the clamping-plate which forces the paper down upon the bed C and holds it there while the knife operates to sever the folded leaf from the web. The clampingplate D is raised from the paper to allow it to be moved along the width of another leaf by means of coiled springs ff on the rods E between the bar E and pins ff, extending through the upper ends of the rods. Between the rods E E are a pair of blocks gg, secured;

to the plate D, and extending between. the blocks is a horizontal spring-bar g, having a curved spring 9, secured centrally to its lower side, the ends of the curved spring bearing upon the plate D. The clampingplate D is forced downward by means of-a small roller (1 on the inside of the knife and bearing upon the horizontal spring of the clamp. The clamp presses the paper upon the bed 0 just before the knife F begins to cut, and its pressure is increased slightly during the cutting operation.

The knife F is secured to the rear side of the slightly-inclined cutting bar F and engages a plate F, secured to the front side of the bed 0. The knifebar F is connected by links 7L h with the frame of the head, one of said links being fulcrumed slightly higher than the other to incline the cuttingbar and its knife. A coiled spring 71, connects one of the links with the frame and serves toraise the knife after it has been depressed. The

knife-bar F is depressed'by means of arod G, secured to one end of the bar andlextending downward to an arm G on a. shaft II. The shaft H is provided with an arm II, which is connected by a rod I (shown partly by broken lines in Fig. 1) with a bell-crank lever I on one side of the printing-machine S. One arm of the bell-crank lever is slotted plate and serve to reciprocate the plate and.

operate the bell-crank lever 1. Although the shaft V rotates continuously, these cams cause the knife F to operate intermittently and when the paper is not in motion.

K is a pocket secured to the front head to hold the folded leaves when they are cut off.

O ne of said leaves is shown lying on the bottomof the pocket, while another leaf is shown ready to be cut off.

A pair of wire fingers j j, having coiled springs formed on their ends, are mounted on a shaft is, supported in the ends of extensions Z Z of the pocket K. The fingers serve to carry the foldedleaf downward to the pile after it is cut off; The fingers are operated by means of a connecting-rod m, extending downward from an arm 'n on the shaft 70 to an arm 19, mounted on the shaft H,before referred to, the shaft H being the shaft that operates the cutting-bar F.

Instead of connecting the rod I and shaft Y with the parts of the printing-machine, as shown, they may be connected with other suitable movable parts thereof which will transmit the required intermittent motion to the feeding and cutting devices of the folding apparatus.

We do not desire to be limited to the precise form of construction herein shown and described, as it will be obvious that the same may be changed Without departing from our invention.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is l 1. In a paper-folding apparatus, the combination with the frame having a grooved crossbar, a head movable and adjustable upon said cross-bar, a pair of parallel shafts provided with circumferentially-enlarged portions constituting the feed-rolls carried by said head, one of said rolls being supported yieldingly, a spring to force the rolls together, gearwheels connecting the feed-rolls together, a driving-shaft connected to one of the feedrolls, a pair of rods parallel with the feedrolls also yielding relatively to each other, aii angular frame having an acute angle supported on said head with the said angle extending toward one end of the feed-rolls, and a roller journaled on the opposite side of the head parallel with the feed-rolls, as set forth;

2. The combination with the frame, of a head carrying feed-rolls for the paper, a bed for the paper in the frame, a spring-clamp having guide-rods extending through the frame, springs on the rods to hold the clamp in its raised position, a knife to cut the paper, links to support the knife upon the frame, a spring to raise the knife, suitable means to depress the knife, and a projection on the knife to depress the clamp when the knife is depressed, as set forth.

3. The combination with the frame, of a head carrying feed-rolls for the paper; a bed for the paper in the frame, a spring-clamp having guide-rods extending through the.

frame, springs on the rods to hold the clamp in its raised position, a knife to cut the paper, links to support the knife upon the frame, a spring to raise the knife, suitable means to 1 depress the knife, a projection on the inner side of the knife to engage the clamp, apocket to receive the portions of paper out off, fingers mounted on a shaft to carry the portions of paper from the knife to the pocket, and means to operate the said shaft connected to one of the shafts for operating the knife, as set forth,

In testimony whereof we have hereunto signed our names.

THOMAS MCDOWELL. [L. s. JAMES BENGOUGH. [L. s. Witnesses:

WILLIAM JOSEPH REIDELL, WILLIAM LAMBERT BOODGER. 

